More and more people in the West are being prescribed anti-depressant drugs for stress and anxiety problems, including our children! Fear of the unknown, insecurity about the future, solitude and loneliness all disturb our peace of mind.

Hatha Yoga (Ha means Sun, Tha means Moon) is an ancient science that helps to balance these two complimentary forces, also known as mind and prana or mental and vital energies. Through certain practices, these are controlled or calmed. These energies are functioning in each and every part of our body. Whenever there is imbalance in these two energy levels, then sickness or disease results.

Prana means vital energy. It is responsible for all the physiological functions of the body, for mobility, body temperature, digestion, excretion, circulation, respiration, etc. For all the activities that are taking place in the body, prana, the life force is responsible. How we live, what we eat and drink, the air that we breathe, all has an influence on our prana or chi.

The other force in the body is mind or consciousness, by which we think and feel. This force is responsible for knowledge or awareness and perception. Stress and anxiety, the things we see and feel on an emotional level all affect our mental state.

When the mental principle becomes unbalanced, then mental disease manifests and when the pranic principle is jeopardized, then you have diseases of the body. It is possible for disease that originates from the mind to affect the body, psychosomatic disease and the reverse is also possible, known as somopsychic disease. Either way it is caused by an imbalance and in Hatha Yoga, we are trying to create balance, bringing the energies to a balanced state, allowing the healing to take place.

The yogic breathing exercises (pranayama) and physical postures (asanas) coordinate the mind and body and help you to become self-aware. They trigger your consciousness to become aware of your internal universe, the peace that lies within us all. Slowing our breath and learning to breathe properly can actually slow our thought process down. With regular practice Yoga can still the mind and eventually meditation can be practiced, enabling us to control our awareness and how we perceive the world around us.

We begin to feel grounded, stable and in control of our lives. Peace and fulfillment cannot be found outside ourselves, we have to go within. Practicing Yoga isn’t a quick fix like a tranquilizer, but it can be the foundation for our inner spiritual journey, a means to an end.

Anti-depressant drugs and their long term negative side affects are already known. By dealing with your mental agony in a holistic way you can experience long term, lasting and positive affects.

Negative, uncontrolled thoughts and assumptions chain us all to fear and anxiety. Freeing our minds and bodies of these chains, while bringing both to optimal health allows us to experience peace and harmony within.